NIKKALUOKTA, THE BEGINNING - Beginning Without Knowing
When I signed up for the Fjällräven Classic, I honestly did not know if I could do it. I am disciplined about my food, exercise, yoga, and spiritual practices. I take care of my body and try to live consciously. But there was one thing I had never done. I had never trained to hike 110 kilometers through the wilderness. The plan sounded simple, at least on paper.
Walk about 110 kilometers over eight days. Carry everything we needed on our backs. Move through the wilderness.
As the trip got closer, the reality began to sink in. Could I really do this? Unlike a high-altitude hike, this was not about adjusting to thin mountain air. My challenge would be the distance, the terrain, the weight on my back, and the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other for 110 kilometers.
The day before the hike, we arrived in Kiruna from Stockholm and made our way to Nikkaluokta, where the adventure would begin. I remember looking around and feeling strangely calm. I did not know what the next eight days would bring. I did not know how my body would respond, what the weather would be like, how difficult the terrain would feel, or whether I would finish. But I was not afraid. There was a quiet feeling inside me: You are in the right place. Just begin.
When I signed up for the Fjällräven Classic, I honestly did not know if I could do it. I am disciplined about my food, exercise, yoga, and spiritual practices. I take care of my body and try to live consciously. But there was one thing I had never done. I had never trained to hike 110 kilometers through the wilderness. The plan sounded simple, at least on paper.
Walk about 110 kilometers over eight days. Carry everything we needed on our backs. Move through the wilderness.
As the trip got closer, the reality began to sink in. Could I really do this? Unlike a high-altitude hike, this was not about adjusting to thin mountain air. My challenge would be the distance, the terrain, the weight on my back, and the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other for 110 kilometers.
The day before the hike, we arrived in Kiruna from Stockholm and made our way to Nikkaluokta, where the adventure would begin. I remember looking around and feeling strangely calm. I did not know what the next eight days would bring. I did not know how my body would respond, what the weather would be like, how difficult the terrain would feel, or whether I would finish. But I was not afraid. There was a quiet feeling inside me: You are in the right place. Just begin.
THE WHY - I Came Because of Them
To be honest, I did not sign up because I was an experienced hiker or because I had dreamed of walking 110 kilometers through the wilderness. I came because my family and extended family were excited about doing it together. There were ten of us, and their excitement was contagious. They kept telling me: We will help you. We will be with you every step of the way. And I knew I was in good hands.
In many ways, it reminded me of when Sri and I started Prana Kitchens.We stepped into something we deeply believed in without knowing exactly how the journey would unfold. We trusted that our friends and family would support us 100%.
That same trust was with me at the beginning of the trail.Still, a small voice wondered: What if I can’t keep up? What if the trail is too difficult? What if my lack of hiking experience makes this harder for everyone else? I did not want my family to slow down or change their experience because of me. And once we started, there was no easy way out. We were heading into the wilderness with everything we needed on our backs.
To be honest, I did not sign up because I was an experienced hiker or because I had dreamed of walking 110 kilometers through the wilderness. I came because my family and extended family were excited about doing it together. There were ten of us, and their excitement was contagious. They kept telling me: We will help you. We will be with you every step of the way. And I knew I was in good hands.
In many ways, it reminded me of when Sri and I started Prana Kitchens.We stepped into something we deeply believed in without knowing exactly how the journey would unfold. We trusted that our friends and family would support us 100%.
That same trust was with me at the beginning of the trail.Still, a small voice wondered: What if I can’t keep up? What if the trail is too difficult? What if my lack of hiking experience makes this harder for everyone else? I did not want my family to slow down or change their experience because of me. And once we started, there was no easy way out. We were heading into the wilderness with everything we needed on our backs.
THE TRAIL - Eight days. 110 kilometers. Everything we needed on our backs.Everything We Need, We Carry.
At the camp center in Nikkaluokta, we collected the food we would need for the first two days. Suddenly, the hike became very real. Our food was limited and carefully measured. We carried only what we needed, leaving very little room for excess. And something unexpected happened.We became deeply aware of how little we actually needed to feel nourished and energized. In everyday life, abundance is always within reach. We can eat whenever we want, reach for more without thinking, and sometimes confuse having more with needing more.
On the trail, that disappeared. We had enough.And we learned to appreciate enough. That became one of the most powerful lessons of the journey. Mindful eating is not about eating less. It is about knowing what is enough.
A simple meal, eaten when we were genuinely hungry, could give us exactly what we needed to keep going.For the next six days, there was no familiar kitchen. No comfortable bed. No certainty about tomorrow. There was only the trail, the mountains, our backpacks, the people beside us, and the next step. There was something deeply beautiful about that simplicity.
At the camp center in Nikkaluokta, we collected the food we would need for the first two days. Suddenly, the hike became very real. Our food was limited and carefully measured. We carried only what we needed, leaving very little room for excess. And something unexpected happened.We became deeply aware of how little we actually needed to feel nourished and energized. In everyday life, abundance is always within reach. We can eat whenever we want, reach for more without thinking, and sometimes confuse having more with needing more.
On the trail, that disappeared. We had enough.And we learned to appreciate enough. That became one of the most powerful lessons of the journey. Mindful eating is not about eating less. It is about knowing what is enough.
A simple meal, eaten when we were genuinely hungry, could give us exactly what we needed to keep going.For the next six days, there was no familiar kitchen. No comfortable bed. No certainty about tomorrow. There was only the trail, the mountains, our backpacks, the people beside us, and the next step. There was something deeply beautiful about that simplicity.
WHAT NOURISHED USE - The first part of our Prana Kitchens philosophy is Eat Mindfully.
On the trail, this became something we experienced rather than simply believed. When you carry your food, you develop a different relationship with it. You do not eat simply because food is available. You eat because your body needs nourishment. You notice what gives you energy. You notice when you are hungry. You notice when you have had enough. And you appreciate every bite.
Our breakfasts were usually simple vegan muesli and oats. Nothing elaborate. Just enough to give us the energy to begin the day. Our other meals were simple too. We had chole and rajma chawal, and we were fortunate to have a nourishing Malabar spinach and moong dal soup from our farmer friend Swathi of Happy Vibes Farm. She is so incredible. The moment she knew we were going on this trip, the packages came to us. We added it to our meals, and after a long day of walking, something so simple and wholesome felt incredibly satisfying.
We also carried snack bars from Pure Bliss Organics, made by our friend Flavia. Knowing they were made by someone we knew, with care and intention, made them feel special. Flavia makes them while chanting Hari Bol, and somehow that spirit of love and devotion traveled with us. Our food became more than something we consumed. It became connected to people, relationships, care, and intention.
That experience brought me back to why we started Prana Kitchens. Mindful eating is not about restriction or constantly thinking about what we should or should not eat.It is about awareness. What does my body need right now? What will nourish me? When have I had enough? Sometimes, the answer is much simpler than we think.
Know the Hands Behind Your Food
The trail also gave me a deeper appreciation for the third part of our philosophy: Support Farmers.
When you spend days surrounded by nature, you become more aware of where life comes from. Food does not begin on a grocery store shelf. It begins with soil, water, sunlight, seeds, seasons, and the people who care for the land. Swathi’s Malabar spinach and moong dal soup was a beautiful reminder of that connection. Knowing the person who grew the food made the meal feel different. There was a relationship behind it.
The same was true of Flavia’s Pure Bliss bars. Knowing who made them, the care that went into them, and even the spirit in which they were prepared made us appreciate them differently. To me, Support Farmers is not simply about buying food from a farm. It is about knowing the hands behind our food and appreciating the care, knowledge, and intention that nourish us. When we know where our food comes from, we develop a different relationship with what we eat. We become more connected to the land.More grateful to the people who grow our food. And more conscious of the choices we make. We are not separate from nature. We are part of it.
On the trail, this became something we experienced rather than simply believed. When you carry your food, you develop a different relationship with it. You do not eat simply because food is available. You eat because your body needs nourishment. You notice what gives you energy. You notice when you are hungry. You notice when you have had enough. And you appreciate every bite.
Our breakfasts were usually simple vegan muesli and oats. Nothing elaborate. Just enough to give us the energy to begin the day. Our other meals were simple too. We had chole and rajma chawal, and we were fortunate to have a nourishing Malabar spinach and moong dal soup from our farmer friend Swathi of Happy Vibes Farm. She is so incredible. The moment she knew we were going on this trip, the packages came to us. We added it to our meals, and after a long day of walking, something so simple and wholesome felt incredibly satisfying.
We also carried snack bars from Pure Bliss Organics, made by our friend Flavia. Knowing they were made by someone we knew, with care and intention, made them feel special. Flavia makes them while chanting Hari Bol, and somehow that spirit of love and devotion traveled with us. Our food became more than something we consumed. It became connected to people, relationships, care, and intention.
That experience brought me back to why we started Prana Kitchens. Mindful eating is not about restriction or constantly thinking about what we should or should not eat.It is about awareness. What does my body need right now? What will nourish me? When have I had enough? Sometimes, the answer is much simpler than we think.
Know the Hands Behind Your Food
The trail also gave me a deeper appreciation for the third part of our philosophy: Support Farmers.
When you spend days surrounded by nature, you become more aware of where life comes from. Food does not begin on a grocery store shelf. It begins with soil, water, sunlight, seeds, seasons, and the people who care for the land. Swathi’s Malabar spinach and moong dal soup was a beautiful reminder of that connection. Knowing the person who grew the food made the meal feel different. There was a relationship behind it.
The same was true of Flavia’s Pure Bliss bars. Knowing who made them, the care that went into them, and even the spirit in which they were prepared made us appreciate them differently. To me, Support Farmers is not simply about buying food from a farm. It is about knowing the hands behind our food and appreciating the care, knowledge, and intention that nourish us. When we know where our food comes from, we develop a different relationship with what we eat. We become more connected to the land.More grateful to the people who grow our food. And more conscious of the choices we make. We are not separate from nature. We are part of it.
THE RHYTHM OF WALKING - Live Consciously
The second part of our philosophy is Live Consciously.
The trail became a lesson in this too. In everyday life, it is easy to move from one thing to the next without really noticing where we are. On the trail, there was nowhere else to be. There was only this step. Then the next one. The rhythm of walking became almost meditative. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes we laughed. Sometimes we walked quietly. Sometimes I found myself completely absorbed in the sound of my footsteps, the wind, the mountains, and the landscape around me.
There was no need to rush. The trail taught me that progress does not always have to be dramatic. Sometimes progress is simply continuing. One step. Then another. And another. That is mindfulness in its simplest form.
The second part of our philosophy is Live Consciously.
The trail became a lesson in this too. In everyday life, it is easy to move from one thing to the next without really noticing where we are. On the trail, there was nowhere else to be. There was only this step. Then the next one. The rhythm of walking became almost meditative. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes we laughed. Sometimes we walked quietly. Sometimes I found myself completely absorbed in the sound of my footsteps, the wind, the mountains, and the landscape around me.
There was no need to rush. The trail taught me that progress does not always have to be dramatic. Sometimes progress is simply continuing. One step. Then another. And another. That is mindfulness in its simplest form.
LISTEN - Our Bodies Are Always Talking to Us
One of the greatest lessons of the hike was learning to listen to my body. We often think of health as something we manage through routines and discipline. But health also requires awareness. The body speaks. It tells us when we need nourishment. When we need rest. When we are pushing too hard. And sometimes, when we have more capacity than we thought.
During the hike, I became much more aware of these signals. I learned that caring for our health is not always about pushing ourselves to do more. Sometimes it is about knowing when to move forward and when to pause. Mindful living is not about perfection. It is about paying attention.
One of the greatest lessons of the hike was learning to listen to my body. We often think of health as something we manage through routines and discipline. But health also requires awareness. The body speaks. It tells us when we need nourishment. When we need rest. When we are pushing too hard. And sometimes, when we have more capacity than we thought.
During the hike, I became much more aware of these signals. I learned that caring for our health is not always about pushing ourselves to do more. Sometimes it is about knowing when to move forward and when to pause. Mindful living is not about perfection. It is about paying attention.
THE JOURNEY IS THE PRACTICE
Perhaps the biggest lesson of the Fjällräven Classic was that mindful living is not something we practice only when life is calm. We practice it when we are tired. When we are uncertain. When the path ahead feels long. When we do not know if we can make it. There were moments when 110 kilometers felt overwhelming. But I did not have to walk 110 kilometers all at once.
I only had to walk the next kilometer. Sometimes, I only had to think about the next step.
And that became a metaphor for so much of life. We often look at our health, our work, our relationships, or our dreams and focus on how far we still have to go. We become overwhelmed by the distance. But perhaps the answer is simpler. Take the next step. Make the next mindful choice. Eat the next meal with awareness. Take the next breath consciously. Move your body. Rest when you need to. Support the people and farmers who nourish us. Spend time with the people walking beside us. And then take another step.
Perhaps the biggest lesson of the Fjällräven Classic was that mindful living is not something we practice only when life is calm. We practice it when we are tired. When we are uncertain. When the path ahead feels long. When we do not know if we can make it. There were moments when 110 kilometers felt overwhelming. But I did not have to walk 110 kilometers all at once.
I only had to walk the next kilometer. Sometimes, I only had to think about the next step.
And that became a metaphor for so much of life. We often look at our health, our work, our relationships, or our dreams and focus on how far we still have to go. We become overwhelmed by the distance. But perhaps the answer is simpler. Take the next step. Make the next mindful choice. Eat the next meal with awareness. Take the next breath consciously. Move your body. Rest when you need to. Support the people and farmers who nourish us. Spend time with the people walking beside us. And then take another step.
WHAT THE TRAIL GAVE ME
I started this journey wondering whether my body was capable of carrying me 110 kilometers through the wilderness. I came back realizing that health is much bigger than physical strength. It is the relationship between our body, our mind, our food, our environment, and our community. The hike brought me back to why Sri and I started Prana Kitchens in the first place.
EAT MINDFULLY
LIVE CONSCIOUSLY
SUPPORT FARMERS
These are not three separate ideas. They are deeply connected. When we eat mindfully, we nourish our bodies. When we live consciously, we become aware of how we move, breathe, rest, and connect. When we support farmers, we honor the land and the people who grow the food that sustains us.
Together, these choices create a more conscious way of living. And perhaps that is what the Fjällräven Classic taught me most clearly: We do not need abundance to feel nourished. We do not need to do everything at once. We do not need to know exactly how we will reach the end. We simply have to begin. Then listen. Then adjust. Then keep going.
One mindful choice at a time.
One conscious moment at a time.
One step at a time.
I started this journey wondering whether my body was capable of carrying me 110 kilometers through the wilderness. I came back realizing that health is much bigger than physical strength. It is the relationship between our body, our mind, our food, our environment, and our community. The hike brought me back to why Sri and I started Prana Kitchens in the first place.
EAT MINDFULLY
LIVE CONSCIOUSLY
SUPPORT FARMERS
These are not three separate ideas. They are deeply connected. When we eat mindfully, we nourish our bodies. When we live consciously, we become aware of how we move, breathe, rest, and connect. When we support farmers, we honor the land and the people who grow the food that sustains us.
Together, these choices create a more conscious way of living. And perhaps that is what the Fjällräven Classic taught me most clearly: We do not need abundance to feel nourished. We do not need to do everything at once. We do not need to know exactly how we will reach the end. We simply have to begin. Then listen. Then adjust. Then keep going.
One mindful choice at a time.
One conscious moment at a time.
One step at a time.
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